Today’s image is from Rowboat Watkins. He’s one of my favorite illustrators, so I asked him if he had anything to share. The bottom portion of the image is a sneak-peek at Rowboat’s Big Bunny, which will be released this Spring from Chronicle Books. Next to that is what Rowboat calls glum Santas on champagne corks, as well as some painted marshmallows. You can click on the image to see it more closely.

I thank Rowboat for sharing. His art always improves the quality of my day.

Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *

I’m going to keep it short again today here at 7-Imp, because honest to goodness, it just occurred to me (as I type this on Saturday night) that tomorrow is Sunday. I’ve been enjoying some time lounging around and not working. Not that 7-Imp is work, but you know what I mean. I hope.

That’s to say: I don’t have seven separate kicks today, but I will next week, promise. My kicks today are the same as they are every day — my family, my friends, my good health. Art, music, and literature. I wish everyone a happy 2018 and hope (and hope and hope) for so much better for our country this year. We have to keep hoping, yes? YES.

8 comments to “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #567: Featuring Rowboat Watkins”

Rowbat Watkins and his work does make every day better! Those Santa corks are fabulous and wonderfully intricate. I totally agree, Jules.

And I like you believe this will be a better year for our country in 2018.

My kicks for this week:
1. I love winter and the recent almost daily snowfalls are breathtaking.
2. My neighborhood tradition of lighting the streets with luminaries on Christmas Eve.
3. Reading funny and meaningful and beautifully illustrated picture books
4. Reading The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks. It is edge-of-your-seat great.
5. Laughing out loud at I’m Just No Good At Rhyming . . . by Chris Harris and Lane Smith
6. Watching Mulan run like the wind around the yard
7. Hearing Mulan snore as she sleeps

1. I saw Coco for a second time. Going in I was thinking “do I really want to give up two hours of my day?” but five minutes into the movie I was thinking “I AM SO GLAD I AM HERE.”

2. Hearing a Filipino friend say she almost cried when she saw the Asian bomber pilot in The Last Jedi. Representation matters!

3. Seeing that video of the African American men reacting to the Black Panther movie poster. Representation matters!

4. New wireless router that has (so far) fixed the constant rebooting problem.

5. Was able to wash my dog on the tail end of someone’s time at the pet store dog wash. (Each $15 wash token gives you 15 minutes of time, the person before me was washing a long haired husky and needed one and a half tokens. I was able to wash and rinse my short-haired guy in the leftover minutes).

6. Christmas is all packed away.

7. Realizing right now that I have a full week remaining of winter break.

Big Bunny looks like a hella lot of fun.
The glum Santas kind of match how I felt the past 72 hours. I think i may be turning the corner. We’ve been at the coast since Friday and today might be my first time out of where we’re staying. So my kicks include health, understanding husband and friends. And look for the CYBILS announcement tomorrow morning.
Happy New Years.

My Kicks are having a restful week this past week, including a whole morning in bed to read. Delicious when one has Small Active Ones.

Thanks to Jules for this most excellent blog and thanks to all those who read and kick each week. Your passion, hope, kindness, belief in healing, love for art are all so inspiring and some weeks really keep me going.

Margie, I like the long, dark nights of winter, and I wish we got snow, like you all do! Maybe in January. I also love the lights of winter, and so I especially love your second kick. That’s pretty flippin’ great.

Jerrold, enjoy the rest of your break. I know I’ll talk to you soon. I reeeeeeeeally want to see Coco.